Zoe Ball has fuelled fresh excitement about the future of Strictly Come Dancing after teasing that life is set “to ramp right up” in 2026 — a comment that has only intensified speculation linking her to the show’s vacant presenting roles.
The BBC ballroom favourite is heading into a period of major change. After more than a decade as a presenting duo, Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman bid an emotional farewell during the 2025 final, bringing an era to a close. Their final show saw former Lioness Karen Carney lift the Glitterball alongside professional partner Carlos Gu, but attention quickly turned to who might step into the iconic hosting positions.
With no official announcement yet from the BBC, fans have been vocal about their dream replacements. Names including Alison Hammond, Rylan Clark, Amanda Holden, and Alan Carr have been floated — but one name continues to rise to the top of fan wish lists: Zoe Ball.
Zoe’s connection to Strictly runs deep. She competed on the show back in 2005, finishing third with professional dancer Ian Waite, and later became the face of spin-off programme It Takes Two, a role she held for over a decade before stepping away in 2021. For many viewers, she already feels like part of the show’s DNA.
Away from the dancefloor, the past year has been deeply personal for Zoe. In November 2024, she surprised listeners by stepping down from BBC Radio 2’s Breakfast Show after nearly six years. Reflecting on the decision, Zoe has spoken candidly about navigating grief following the death of her mother, Julie, in April 2024 — describing 2025 as a year that forced her to finally slow down.
“It’s been a very reflective year,” she shared. “For the first time, I’ve really had the space to process grief — not just losing Mum, but other things I hadn’t allowed myself to deal with. It’s been quiet, but it’s been good for my heart and soul.”
Although Zoe briefly returned to Radio 2 with a Saturday afternoon programme, she stepped away again after seven months, with Emma Willis taking over the slot. The move only added to the sense that Zoe was clearing space for something new.
And now, hints of what comes next are beginning to emerge. Zoe has revealed she’s been working on “three amazing” television projects set to air in the coming months — and while she hasn’t named them, her words have set imaginations racing.
“Life has been quite quiet, and I really needed that,” she said. “But I think next year… it’s going to ramp right up again.”
Whether that includes a return to the Strictly Come Dancing ballroom remains to be seen. But as 2026 approaches and the BBC prepares for its biggest shake-up in years, Zoe Ball’s timing — and her history with the show — has many convinced that her next step could be her most glittering yet. ✨💃
